Introduction

The Volkswagen Vento is the entry-level sedan from the German car making giant. The Vento is based on the Polo and they are built on the same platform. The Vento was launched in India 2010 and it was also built specifically for the Indian market. The Skoda Rapid also shares the same platform and is essentially the same car. The Vento competes with the Fiat Linea, Hyundai Verna and Honda Amaze. For 2014 the vento has undergone a minor facelift.

Design & Styling

The Vento follows the same design approach as the Polo, except it features a boot to make it a sedan. The car is longer, with a longer wheelbase as well, than the Polo, but its other dimensions are much the same. The design language uses sharp lines and a clean modernistic approach. It is a good looking sedan, but definitely not the best. It comes with newly designed alloy wheels to give it a more premium and sporty look. The front grille has also been slightly changed and the headlights and front bumper have also been redesigned.

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Interiors

The Interiors of the Vento are similar to the Polo, but there is more space in the back for rear seat passengers. The dashboard is a neat design with everything in place giving the car good ergonomics. The steering wheel is very attractive. The steering wheel has been replaced with a flat bottom three-spoke steering wheel.

Engine & Transmission

The Vento comes with a 1.6 litre petrol as well as a brand new 1.5 litre diesel engine. We drove the petrol version that gives out around 103bhp and 153Nm of torque. The engine is then mated to a nicely built 5-speed transmission. The engine is very well built and very well refined. The new 1.5 litre diesel engine gives out 103bhp and 250Nm of torque, and is also available with a 7-speed DSG transmission as an option.

Performance and Handling

The petrol variant we drove was decent on the road, but we did not enjoy its power, as the car doesn’t really accelerate very well. Overtaking was a huge problem for us on the highway, and we can imagine the diesel would have been better. Besides the poor acceleration, the car drives very well. It has a solid frame and a good suspension that drives well on Indian roads. The car also handles well and the steering response is nice. The brakes also work well. Overall, it’s not a fun car to drive, but very comfortable indeed. The diesel unit works very well but there is a turbo lag. However, the DSG transmission with this engine is quite remarkable to drive with precise gear shifts.

Fuel Efficiency

We got an average fuel economy of 11kmpl in the petrol model.

Features

Features in the Vento include electric power steering with mounted controls, power windows, climate control with dust and pollen filters, in-built audio system, and a central display unit.

Safety

Safety features include a smart key, dual airbags, parking sensors, and ABS.

Quality & Reliability

The quality of the Vento is top-notch, after all it is a Volkswagen. The engine is highly refined and smooth and the cabin is very nice with good materials. The car is decently reliable and might cost you a bundle to service.

Value for Money

Not the best value for money out there in the market, but still a very good car.

Verdict

This is not a driver’s car. The petrol is a little lazy in terms of torque, but it does have superb ride quality and very good use of quality materials. Plus it looks nice. However there are other cars that look better and even perform better. If you do want a Vento though, we insist on the diesel variant.

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3 Volkswagen Vento User Reviews

I recently replaced my Tata Indigo Marina with Volkswagen Highline Petrol 1.6. Cute looks, silent Cabin, good Interiors, utility based features, nice driving comfort, excellent handling at all speeds are the very good points to be noted by everyone buying the same. Little noisier engine is the only negative point in this car otherwise it is a gem from.

Not value for money, coampany is not listening you and very poor accessories quality. No resale value. Really bad choice. I can say the worst sedan car. I, m using this car for last 2 years. pls do not choose this car

I bought a Vento by exchanging my Wagon R. Before buying the car I inquired with some of my friends about Vento and Linea and they suggested Vento as it is a new model compared to two year old Linea. The ground clearance may be more in Vento. When I took the car to Munnar I found that the ground clearance is as same as Linea and there is no engine protection cover like Linea. My my vehicle hit on ditch on road and my AC compressor got damaged. My vehicle has been towed to the dealer and when I inquired, they says this is a normal problem on Vento.
I am very much unhappy because of the maintenance cost of this vehicle. The clutch has gone twice in 12000 kms. The decision I took to buy this car was a wrong decision

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